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Nir Mandelker
Senior Lecturer, Racah Institute of Physics,
Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Thermal physics, 2014-2016
Lecturer: Prof. Ronen Rapaport
TAs and recitation lecturers: Nir Mandelker, Almog Yalinewich
Intro to probability theory; Stirling's approximation
State space example: paramagnetic model of N spins
Thermal equilibrium (microscopic view)
Boltzmann distribution and the partition function
Multi-variable functions; degrees of freedom and the equipartition principle
Thermodynamic processes; quasi-static and reversible processes; heat capacity
The Stirling engine; pressure waves and the speed of sound
Engines, refrigerators, heat pumps and the second law of thermodynamics
Thermodynamic potentials; Joule-Kelvin process; osmotic pressure
Stability of thermodynamic systems; Van der Waals gas
Phase transitions and coexistence
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